Natural Building: Installing an Earthen Floor

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Photo by James Thomson
Burnishing an earthen floor at the leather-hard stage polishesthe floor and removes trowel marks.

An earthen floor is a great option for those who want to bring earth into their homes. The technique is relatively easy to learn, and the floors can be installed in a variety of situations and conditions, including both new and existing buildings. They could sell themselves on aesthetic appeal alone, let alone their unique feel, low toxicity, thermal benefits, and minimal environmental impact.

The concept of an earthen floor is not new. Homes have been built directly on the earth for millennia. In many parts of the world, people still live on floors made of earth. Most traditional earthen floors are just the raw earth, tamped down with human feet and moistened frequently with water to keep the dust down. Sometimes sealers are used to stabilize the earth more permanently.

Over the last few decades, earth builders in North America have been improving earthen floor installation techniques to the point where now even people living in conventional houses are willing, even enthusiastic, to live on a floor made out of earth. Today’s earthen floor practitioners carefully select, process, and mix their raw materials and install them with the assistance of laser levels, steel trowels, and insulation to make floors that are flat, smooth, and warm. Oil and wax sealants provide durability, water-resistance and shine. Some earthen floors are installed in conjunction with radiant heat systems, a wonderful heating option for modern homes.

Earthen floors are remarkably versatile, but may not be suitable for every application. It’s useful to understand a few of their key characteristics to determine where they should and should not be installed.

sculptural cob fireplace surround, the floor in Sudip Biddle and Rosalind Wu’s straw bale home in Pagosa Springs, Colorado (built by Kelly Ray Mathews) also serves as a thermal mass for storing heat and moderating temperature fluctuations. Note the use of a stone under the stove, where people might be tempted to split firewood; an earthen floor could be damaged by high-impact activity."/>
  • Updated on Jul 24, 2022
  • Originally Published on Nov 16, 2015
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